Commercial auto insurance in California
California businesses operating vehicles for work — service trucks, vans, delivery vehicles, or a fleet — generally need commercial auto coverage. A personal auto policy typically excludes business use, so a commercial auto policy is generally what is intended to respond when a work vehicle is involved in an accident.
California requirements to know
State financial-responsibility minimum
California requires minimum liability of 30/60/15 — $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage (raised from 15/30/5 effective January 1, 2025). This is a floor; heavier vehicles, for-hire operations, and many contracts require more.
Heavier and for-hire vehicles
Heavier commercial trucks and vehicles used for hire commonly face higher limits set by the state or by the entity hiring you, and a $1,000,000 combined single limit is a frequent contract requirement.
Interstate carriers (FMCSA)
Crossing state lines for hire triggers federal motor-carrier minimums — often $750,000 for general freight, and higher for certain cargo or passenger counts.
Who needs it in California
Logistics and port drayage, construction, agriculture and produce hauling, and delivery operations across Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are common California commercial-auto users.
Share your fleet size, driver count, and how the vehicles are used, and we’ll match you to a carrier. Required limits may vary by vehicle type, for-hire status, and the contracts you work under — verify yours before relying on a minimum.
New to the coverage parts (liability, physical damage, hired & non-owned auto, motor-truck cargo)? See the full breakdown on our commercial auto insurance guide. California minimums are a floor — required limits and pricing are set by the carrier and vary by vehicle, use, and driving records.
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